Catechists engage, comfort and challenge

By Elizabeth A. Marcil
Director, Office of Religious Education

Fall decorations often include a cornucopia – that horn of plenty which reminds us of the abundance of the harvest. As we prepare for the
Thanksgiving feast, for a moment, our thoughts might turn to agriculture and earlier times. During the 18th and 19th centuries, barn raisings were a common, necessary practice. While a few might have been able to assemble the barn, many more hands were needed to raise and complete it. Community members regularly helped one another in this task.
 From the very beginning, the Creator ordained this community way of life. In Genesis 2:18-23, we read that “God said: ‘It is not good for the man to be alone.’” A few weeks ago, we heard that wonderful story of Moses, the chosen one of God, needing the assistance of Aaron and Hur to keep his hands raised during the battle withthe Amaleks (Exodus 17:8-13). Jesus called apostles and disciples to assist him in his ministry. We need the assistance and support of others on our journey through life. We are meant to accompany one another.Catechesis – a Greek word which means to resound or echo –refers to the whole of the efforts of the Church to make disciples (See Catechesi Tradendae #1). The new Directory for Catechesis, a document the universal Church received from Rome in 2020, states that “catechesis is an ecclesial act, arising from the missionary mandate of the Lord . . . aimed at making the proclamation of his Passion, death and Resurrection resound in the heart of every person so that his life might be transformed. It is a dynamic and complex reality . . . it is accompaniment, education, and formation in the faith and for the faith, an introduction to the celebration of the Mystery, illumination and interpretation of human life and history” (DC#55).
The community itself catechizes in proclaiming, celebrating, and witnessing to the faith. Within the community, there are different ministries. Bishops, successors to the apostles, are charged with maintaining and handing on the authentic Tradition. In recent years, they have given us new tools: the Catechism of the Catholic Church and The Directory for Catechesis. Their national Subcommittee on the Catechism reviews catechetical texts for doctrinal correctness and completeness. Soon they will be finding ways to encourage using digital tools for catechesis. The new Institute on the Catechism will also offer training in catechesis.
In 2021, Pope Francis issued an apostolic letter, Antiquum Ministerium, which noted that, besides the ministries of the bishop, priests and parents, lay people may be called to a specific ministry of catechist. The catechist is one who witnesses to the faith, who has a solid foundation and knowledge of the faith, and who has the “savoir-faire” – the “know-how” to hand on the faith in an increasingly complex and diverse society. The catechist is one who knows how to draw from the cornucopia of the faith that which will engage, comfort and challenge those whom he or she accompanies. The catechist calls forth other members of the community and prepares them to assist in this task.
As we prepare to give thanks for all of God’s many blessings, let us remember to give thanks for –and thank –the many men and women who assist in the ministry of catechesis. Let us also pray that many will be called to this ministry for “the harvest is abundant but the laborers are few” (Luke 10:2).

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